Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-12-03
A BUSINESS VIEW OF II.

Inc pfOpOsltlOn 10 bona the city Tor
$4,000 for the purpose of sinking an
artesisn well and building a city hall
meets with almost unanimous approval.
The bonded Indebtedness of the city
will not exceed $l7 900, if the proposed
$4,000 is voted. This is a very moder-
ate debt for a city Of the size and i'm
portance of Devils Lake. Our floating
Indebtedness will be completely wiped
out by the first of February, and there
will be from $1,000 to $4,000 III the
treasury. 1t is safe to say that no other
city in the territory is in better condi-
ton.
1t is impossible to ascertain the exact
amount that will be required to put in
the artesian we'll. It may be necessary
to use ten of the twelve thousand for
this purpose alone; and with good luck
and management five OF six thousand
may accomplish the object. One thou
sand feet of boring may bring II good
flow of water, and it may be necessary
to go 1000 feet.
As to the city hall, we believe it is the
intention of the council not to spend
over three or four thousand for that
purpose. a local contractor says q
good two.story brick or stone building
large enough O"accommodate the fire
apparatuip Pm the lower floor and provide
an assembly room for the fire depart
ment and a place for the meeting of the
Council, with 81 vault for city records,
bose for the city prisoners,
(klso q public hall in the second
story, can be built for $25O0. 1t
will be necessary for the city
to purchase a piece Of property on which
to sink its we'll and MAINTAIN the re-
quisite appliances for controlling the
water, or caring for the overflow. The
well should be central so that the con.
nections for piping may be made with
rs little expense as possible for ditching
Therefore, in providing such q site
enough ground can be purchased
to accommodate a city hall. Sup
pose the ground necessary to &C.
commodate the we'll and hall, and
the hall itself, cost $4000-and this is a
liberal estimate-the interest on that
sum cannot exceed $3.50 a year, which
is a less sun than is now paid any sin.
gle officer of the city drawing a salary
except the treasurer. The rent of the
hall portion of the building, together
with the license charged to concert OF
theatrical troupes, would certainly pay
the interest on such an investment, and
the taxpayers would have twenty years
to pay the $4,000 principal.
If proper flow can be obtained from
the we'll to warrant the piping Of the
water through the principal streets of
the city, the tolls from the sale of water
ought to pay, not only the interest upon
the outlay, but the principal itself.
These are facts and figures which all
business men can easily understand
They furnish a business view of the sit.
uation. The question 10Y is, Shall We
remain without water and at the same
time be content with a cold, damp hall
which seems to be especially adapted
for rusting our fire machinery and rot
ting the hose, or shall we engage in q
perfectly legitimate and legsl enter.
prise to supply the city with much
needed water and erect q much.needed
structure for the protection and care O.
the public property we now have and al
the same time have a building that w
are NOT ashamed to call q city hall?